San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-12-19

least, TO be able 10 drop TINS horrible mask
of smiles and merriment.
Someone passed through the door by
which she sat, and paused close to her
She had not heard the step-it was lost
amid the beat of the band and the steps of
the dancers-but she knew whose il was
and her breath seemed 10 ebb away like
the breath Of dying woman, and she saw
and heard nothing; but she needed no out
ward sense TO know that Max Beauregard
was near her. Yet she did not turn her
head to look--did not even move, as though
she had been unaware of his presence.
Miss Herbert" he said, gently, and her
start was not all feigned. Miss Herbert,
alone'''
For, with sickening rush Of memory,
she came back to the ballroom at Don
ningtou-so Beauregard had come up to
her as she sat apart and spoken to her al
most the same words.
But tone and manner then and now
How the difference wrung her heart! The
old, sweet touch of tenderness gone; that
something which recognized the dawning
womanhood, yet saw the child. Had a few
months so changed her?-so altered their
relations?
But this, which showed her so clearly
she was nothing to him more than friend
If indeed so much-gave her greater
strength to guard her secret.
With a pretty shrug she answered him,
Just glancing round.
at is a treat to be alone sOmetimes-and
was tiredr'
Again the stab so straight and keen that
he could not for a moment speak.
Then, lightly:
as that a hint. If so, pardon me"
"No, nor' she said, quickly. flushing
crimson now. II did not mean that"
81 was only jestingl'
He laid his hand on the back of her chair
| and bent down little.
Miss Herbert, are you engaged for the
| next dancer
II Valerie had not been prepared for the
question her nerve might have failed her
| at that moment, but. though the crimson
changed to paleness, and then to crimson
again in one great throb of her heart, she
faltered under her breath:
81 am so sorry-I-I am indeed. II
have not one vacancyr'
Colonel Beauregard drew his hand away
and raised himself
Thanks" he said, quietly. 81 dare say
your card was full before came"
He bowed and passed on.
Valerie saw him through n scarlet mist.
She was daZed-stunned. If she had tried
to rise then she would have fallen.
If he had only spoken some bitter words!
reminded her of that ride through the
mOonlit lanes, which he must have recalled
wildly Just now, when she had pledged
herself to give him four dances: and to-
night, after he had been away so long, she
had not one dance to spare for him, though
she knew he WAS coming.
Yet he uttered no rcprOGch: he even tried
chivalrously 10 shield her; perhaps he al
most pitied her-mere puppet of fashion
that she had become; tool in a worldly
woman's hands; heartless COquette, who
accepted all mems homage, and would
sell her youth and beauty to the highest
bidder!
Mr.. LawfOrd came up as, rallying her
self desperately, the girl was about to rise
"Ah! Mr.. Lawford," she said, with a
faint smile, 81 am glad Of someone now.
Take me into the conservatory; it is cool
there, and my head aches so. No fuss,
please for I4awford was one of those tact,
less people who cannot understand when
to "let alone" simply do what ask you"
DO uG' llpA 0Ol y W lclNN lCA " hllil9Cllt
drew her hand on his arm and led her
away to the conservatory; and by-and-by
Max Beauregard saw them sauntering
down one of the alleys.
Heaven help herr he said, in his agony.
"She will find out too late the terrible
price she is paying for that accursed gold!
Oh, Valerie Valerie! You might have been
less cruel-you might have kept one mem
DRY of past days, and told me more gently
that you have blotted out all former ties,
| and intend to date from your first success
in the London worldr'
Valerie danced the next dance, and the
next and chatted, and laughed, and fiirt-
ed, and had never seemed more brilliant.
But at half past two she threw herself in
a chair by her aunt, and begged to be tax.
en- home.
liam tired outr' she said. 'Ihave danced
everything. Please let us go!"
So, despite prayers and remonstrances,
the beauty took herself off, and wouldn't
let Lawford put on her OpeTa-cloak, but
told simpering young guardsman to fetch
it, making him thereby happy for days.
And when the girl got home, and her
ball-dress and jewels were removed, and
she was alone, she flung herself down on
the bed. and sObbed for hours; while Mrs.
Langley, laying her head on her pillow,
closed her eyes rejecting cOmplaCently on
the events of that night.
81 was q little afraid of Max BeaUre-
gard" she said inwardly; may, a good
deal. But perhaps he is less romantic
than he seems, and certainly Valerie's con-
duct showed that she had not the least
pcnChdnt for him. So proud man will
hold aloof now, even if he had been FpriS.
Still, l should not care to have them thrown
much tOgetherI All the men lose their
heads about Valerie, and one never can
trust that young girl will not throw up
the whole world for the sake of dashing
fellow with few hundreds year,
CHAPTER XXII.-wISE PUPIL OR CLEVER AC-
TREsS?
Aunt Constance" said Valerie, the
next day, as she came into the drawing
room ready dressed for an lat home to
which they were engaged, II want to say
something to you, and then, please, never
let it be spoken of again.
well, my DEAR" said Mrs. Langley, a
little surprised, Just little alarmed. She
never felt quite safe" with Valerie.
Valerie went to the window and stood
there, looking blankly before her, and
averting her face from her aunt.
Louis is in town." she began, abruptly,
land he wrote to me, and l told him to
call here on Thursday evening"
Here she paused.
well, Valerie?" said Mrs. Langley, hid
ing the trepidation she felt as to what this